Pie-making machine



Marsh 2, 192e. 1,575,214

' J. F. KHLER PIE MAKING MACHINE 'Filed August 22. 1925 4 sheets-sheet l March 2 l1926. 1,575,214

J. F. KoHLl-:R

PIE MAKING. MACHINE Filed August'22, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 2 1926.

J. F. KOHLER Pm MAKING MACHINE Filed'August 22. 1923 4 sheds-sheet 5 Much 2,1926, 1575,214 J. F. KOHLER PIE MAKING MACHINE Filed August 22. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. KOHLER, on LARCHMONT MANOR, NEW YORK.

PIE-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed August 22, 1923. Serial No. 658,705.

To all io/10m,4 il may concern.' y K Be it known that I, JOHN F. Korman, a citizen of the United States, and a 'resident of Larchmont Manor` in the county of lestchester and State ot New York, have invented certain neu7 and useful Improvements in Pie-Making Machines, oi' which the followingr is a specification.

My invention relates to piemaki-ng ma- 10 chinery more particularly to a machine for trimming the dough which is to form the bottom* crust of the pie and to roll in the edge of the dough to form a ril-n and also to crimp the rim to form the dough into condition to produce a pie crust equa-l or superior to the hand made produc-t in every vrespect. In the present machine all off these operations are performed mechanical-ly and automatically. VIn pie machines, as heretofore made, a die cooperated with the pie pla-te to' force the laye-r of dough, which vias primarily much rthicker tha-n the completed article, in such ya manner that 'a portion of the dough which was placed between the pie plate and the die Was forced outvvial-diy around the edge and this squeezedout portion of the dough W'as utilized for l-nalri-ng Vthe rim in connection With a roller which imoved yaround the die Iand pie plate. -N/ot only lis the output olf such a machine limited but one of the greatest object-ions is that the sheet of dough used -to be much thick-er 'than is desired and as a result the bottom crust Vin `a pie made .troni that dough was undesirably thick :and in vvthe baking process it vel-y often came out soggy. With the present machine While there is no limi-tation 'to the thickness of the sheet oi` `dough used, nevertheless, I am able to use a rnuirh thinner sheet ol dough than in `the former machines referred `to and at the saine `time I 4am aole 4to form a superior lim-ige and lto crimp that llange in a very regifrlar and pleashig' pattern. In tadditioi'fi to these advantages., I yain 4able to increase the out-init; or' the machine to a point Where the mach-ine will operate as fast as sheets of dough' can be successfully yapplied upon the pie plates. The principal reason Why lv am able to obtain ythese results is that instead of forcing' a rela-tively thick sheet dough outwardly from yl'ie'tiveen the die and pie plate Iby great lressuire the -liireseut Eniaehi-ne is arranged to cut troni :I sheet ol dough which initial-ly larger than the pie plate a disk of larger circumference than the pie plate and the flange is built up -by turning and rolling this surplus or projecting portion of the dough into kthe space between the rim of the pie plate and the cooperating die member. In this manner I arrive at a more desirable result and. in the quickest possible time. It may be pointed out that with the present machine there is no excessive pressure or squeezing of the dough and it is a Well lrnoivn fact that the less pressure and squeezing there is in the handli-ng'ol the dough the lighter and more flaky will be the pie 'crust made from the dough. I

In addition to forming the flange, the present machine `is also adapted to crimp the rim after it has been formed and this operation takes place simultaneously with the forma-tion 'of the rifms; except that the crimping` `operation, 'taires pla-ce on leach plate after -it has moved from the position near the rim forming device so that While these two devices are performing their functions simultaneously they are acting en dill-erent pie'plates at agiven time.

Another 'object of my invention is to provide a machine for 'carrying out the `above objects which will be continuous in iFts ope-ration and in Which the conveyor which carries the pie plates through the sereral opefrations may be rmoved continuously.- For this .purpose I prefer ,to arrange the rim forming` 'and crimping devices on a 'movable carriaoe or support and to reciprocate these devices so that they move with the plate conveyor' While they are perfo11m-ing;- their operations and then return 'to perform similar voperations on vsuccessive plates.

@ther objects yand advantages will be apparent -from the following' detailed `desc-ripltion of one forni of my invention. y

In the drawings lorn'ring Ia part oiI this applicati-on,

Figure l is an elevation otl my inirn'ovcd machine ivi-tli some lari-s shown 1in section,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 oit Figure l` ure 3 is an end vieiv 'olf the machine,

v Figure 4f is an enlarged detailed vi'evv ott the 1caen mechaifrisni lor reciprocating); the rin-i-lnmingr and crimping; devices, l

Figure is a pla-u View oil the machine,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of a piece of dough formed on the present machine,

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view of the crimping fingers and the ring for Operating them,

Figure S is a perspective View thereof,

Figure 9 is a plan view of the plate carriers and conveying chains,

Figure 1() is a sectional view taken on the line 1(1-10 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a plan view of the arm which carries the rim forming members, and

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.

In the drawings I have shown the machine parts mounted on a frame 1 composed of tubes and couplings or brackets the form of which frame is immaterial so long as it supports the parts in the following operative relationship. I have shown journaled in brackets 2 011 this frame the main shaft which is driven by any suitable source of power and I have indicated pulleys 4 on this shaft which may be operated from a belt by any source of power or the shaft may be operated by an electric motor. rEhe operating force for the various parts of the machine is taken from this main shaft 3. At the left hand end of Figure 1 I have shown a shaft 5 journaled in brackets 6 and on this shaft are arranged in spaced relation the sprocket wheels 7, 8, which revolve with this shaft. At the right hand end of Figure 1 I have shown a similar shaft 9 which shaft is parallel with the shaft 5 and it is also provided with a pair of sprocket wheels 10, 11 which revolve with this shaft. There are two endless chains, one of which 12 travels over the sprockets 7, 10, and the other chain 13 travels around the sprockets 8, 1l. At regular intervals there are arranged between these chains the plate supports 14 which consist of flat members each of which is provided with an aperture 15 in which the pie plate rests on the top surface of the support 14 adjacent the edge of the opening 15. Each support 14 at its forward end and at each side has a small bracket 17 extending at right angles to the support and the parallel chains have corresponding brackets 13; and pivot bolts 19 pass through these re spective brackets and form a pivotal support for the forward or leading end of the support 14. The rear end of each support simply rests on a pair of pintles 2O which are carried by the chains.

On the main shaft 3 there is a sprocket wheel 21 around which travels the chain 22. This chain also travels around a sprocket 23 on the shaft 5 and through these members continuons operation is imparted to the shaft, to propel the conveying mechanism in such direction that the top run of the conveyer chains 12, 13, move to the left in Figure 1.

The upper extensions 24 of the frame 1 form the vertical guides for the movable carriage. Reciprocating vertically on these posts are the sleeves 25 which form a part of the movable carriage. Between these sleeves 25 are connected the horizontal and parallel shafts 2G, 27 which, together with the sleeves, form arectangular frame or carriage which moves vertically and is guided by the post members 24. Near each end of the carriage there isa. cam 28 and on each end of the movable carriage there is a roller 29 and the latter are operated upon by the cams 28 to periodically and bodily lift the carriage. Through this mechanism an up and down or vertical movement is imparted to the rim forming and crimping devices in order to periodically bring them into operative relation to the pie plates and to move them away to allow successive plates to be brought into operative positions. On the upper .horizontal shaft 26 there is arranged a sliding sleeve 3() and on the lower horizontal shaft 27 there is a corresponding sl idw ing sleeve 31 both of which are connected together by a bracket 32 so that these parts move as a unit. There is a bearing hub 33 carried by the bracket 32 and extending through this hub and having suitable bearing therein I have provided the following:

In the interior there is a rod which projects below the hub and its lower end is adapted to press against the pie plate to eject it from the die. Surrounding this rod 34 there is a sleeve 35 which carries the die member 36 which latter cooperates with the pie plate to press the sheet of dough into the form necessary to constitute the lower crust of a pie. Surrounding the sleeve 35 there is another sleeve 37 which supports and carries the hub 38 from which project in opposite directions the arms 39 'on which the rim forming members are carried. Surrounding the sleeve 37 there is another sleeve 40 and this supports a stationary gear wheel 41. Above the hub 33 there is a gear 42 which is secured to the sleeve 37 which latter is the one which carries the arms 3). The sleeve 37 is revolved in the following manner. On the main shaft 3 there is a gear 43 and surrounding this there is a yoke 44 which carries the mitre gear 45 which meshes with and is operated by the gear 43. The yoke 44 is adapted to pivot on the main shaft 3 but the gear 43 is pinned to this shaft. The gear 45 is fixed to the lower end of the inclined shaft 46 one end of which has its bearing in the yoke 44. The upper end of this shaft has its bearing in the two arms of a yoke 47 which is pivoted upon a horizontal shaft 43. There is a mitre gear 49 on the shaft 43 and this meshes with and (ill drives the mitre gear 42 which is fixed te the sleeve 37. It will be noted that the shaft 46 is adapted to slide lengthwise in the arins or' the. yoke 47 and this, together with the pivotal motions et' the yoke 44 and the yoke 47 makes it possible for the shaft 4S `to move vertically and horizontallyii'i relation tothe inclined shaft 46 without interfering with the drii'iing operation of the shalt k48. The latter shaft, 448, has its bearings in the portion which meshes with 'and yoperates Ethe gear 42 and through these several parts revolving' motion is continually imparted te the sleeve 37 and therefore to the arms 39. In addition to the reciprocating, vertical motion imparted to the carriage I also impart a horizontal reciprocating motion to the frame For this purpose I have shown the lever 50 pivo'ted to a bracket at 5l on the lstationary trame of the mach-ine, and there i's a disk '52 fixed "to the shaft and it has 1a ypin 53 which engages in the slot 54 oit this lever 50. At each revolution of the disk 52 the lever -50 is `nioved to the right and l'eitt in Figure 4. The upper end of the lever 501 has pivotally connected to it a link v55 which is also pi'voted 'at one end 56 to 4the sliding, iframe lt will be obvious lthatJ afs the lever 450 rocks this will cause the sliding frame 32 together with the sleeves 30, 3l, which are guided on the shafts 26, 27 to reciprocate lengthwise of th'e machine land this motion ma take place` independently of Vthe up land' own movement of the 'carriage as a whole.

In the outer end fof cachot the arms 39 there is j-ournaled in the h-ubs 57 a stud 58 on which is carried the vertically 'disposed cone shaped forming roller 59. In the pre.- lerr'ed form of my machine shown herein there lis a cone forming roller on each arm 39 and therefore these rollers vwill operate upon the entire `circumference of the die and pie plate for each half revolution of the sleeve 37. It is to be understood 'that I do not wish to limit my invention to the use of any particular number 'ot forming rollers because fone or any other nuinler may perform this work and I have selected two merely because the work can fbe performed quicker than with Lone and because two will perform the work as fast as Athe pie plates can be reason-ably fed through the machine. lach stud 58 which carries a forming roller is provided with a pinion 60 which meshes with the gear '41 so that as the arms 39 lo tate and as the gear 41 is stationary, the forming rollers 59 are `caused to revolve on their own axes in addition to rotating with the 4arms 39 about their axes. Each arm 39 carries an arcuate extension 61 which is provided with bosses 62, 63. In the boss 63, which is the one furthest from the forming roller, there a vertically sliding;i spindle 64 in the lower end of which there is carried a cutting roller G5 which cooperates with the top surface of the plate supporting member 14 to cut the sheet oit dough to the proper size. As the ari-ns. 39 revolve clockwise iin F'gure l2, the cutting rollers (35 will each precede their respective forming` rollers in their operations. The cutting roller 65 is 'pressed into cont-act with the plate support 14 by means of the spring pressing on the spindle 64. In each boss 69, there is a i-Ye'rt'ically sliding spindle 67 and on the lower end of this there is carried the blade or plow share 68 which follows iin-mediately a'fter the cutting` roller 65 and which precedes the forming roller 59.

0n Vthe horizontal shafts 25, 27 of the inovalile carriage and toward the rear oi? the ina-chine there are arranged the upper and lower sleeves 70, Tl connected by a bracket T2 to move as a un-it; and this unit reciprocate-s along' the shafts 26, 27 and it carries the mechanism for crimping` 1re pie rim which has been' previously formed by the rim forming mechanism. T he bracket 'T2 is connected with the bracket 232 by a connecting rod T3r so that the reciprocating motion applied through the lever 50 to the bracket is also applied to the bracket 72 so that the rim forming` and the crimping mechanisms hot-h reciprocate ytogether yon the carriafge. There is a vertical shaft 74 journaled inthe bearing member 75 on the sleeve and on the 'lower end of this shaftthere isa disk 7G which rests on a collar 77 secured to the shaft by the set screw 78. Arci-indv this disk at intervals there are arranged .pins 7 9 on the ends ot which there are sliding "or telescosping,Y sleeves S0 which are forced downwardly by the 'compression springs 8l. The .purpose oit these pins is to press at various points against the rim el' the pie plate in order to hold the plate iat against the .plat support, as in many in stances the plates are not per tectly llait and itis desirable that they be h'el'd so while the crimping device is operating. Above the disk 76 there is a second disk 82 which is movable toward and from the lower disk 76 and it is normally `n'cssed upwardly by the coiled springl 83 which surrounds the shaft T4 and is `compressed betweeirthe upper and the lower disks, This second disk 82 has an annular channel S4 in which there is a V-shaped cam ring' 85 and the chamber 84 is closed at the 'bottom by a plate SG having a series oft slots 87. The lower disk has pairsot ulpturned apertured ears 88 and bctween .each pair of lears there is pivoted a pair of levers 89 having upwardly "extending` arlms 90 which rare adapted to 'be actuated by the `cani rifng The lower `irms 91 ot these levers are provided with crimping.;` iin- The parts are so arranged that when the carriage moves downwardly the pins T9 'First engage the rim oi the pie plate lil() lijd and then the crimping arms 91 approach the rim of dough while these arms are in divergent relation shown in Figures '.7 and S, and subsequently the disk member 82 moves toward the lower dish 76 and the cam ring 85 enters between all of the upper arms 90 of the several pairs. of crimping levers S9 and as this motion continues these upper arms are forced apart and this causes the lower arms 91 to move toward each other and finally to pass each other. This action takes place after the crimping lingers have been lowered to a position where they engage the rim of dough previously formed by the rinnning device. Upon the upper movement of the carriage the disk S2 moves away from the lower disk 7G so that the cani ring witl'idraws from between the arms 90 of the crimping levers and the latter return to the position shown in 1Eigure 8, either by gravity or by the action of suitable springs. A continuation of the upward movement of the carriage carries the entire crimping device away from the pie plate and the dough so that the pie plate may be advanced toward its discharge point.

Operation.

A pie plate with a thin sheet of dough, somewhat larger than the pie plate, is placed on each of the carriers or supports 14 at the right hand end of the machine in Figures l and 5 so that each plate lies in the aperture l5 with its flange resting on the top surface of the support. The plates may be fed to the machine either by hand or by automatic feeding means not shown and not forming any part of the present invention. The pie plates are conveyed continually upon the supports la while the latter are traveling with the upper runs of the chains l2, 13, until they re ch the left hand end of the machine in Figures l and 5 and the pie plates are discharged from the support A while the latter are traveling around the sprockets 7 and 8 upon any suitable support or table, not shown.

Let it be assumed that the carriage is in the raised position and that a pie plate is being moved rearwardly by the conveyer and that the sleeves 30, 31 and the sleeves C70, Tl are in the eXtreme right hand position of Figure l. The next movement which takes place will be the lowering of the carriage as the rollers 29 enter the recesses of the cams QS. rlhis will take place while the rimming device is directly over one of the pie plates and while the crimping device is directly over another pie plate, which latter has previously been acted upon by the rimining` device. As the carriage moves down, the die member 36 approaches the pie plate and presses against the sheet of dough which rests on the plate; and the pin 3l which projects through the bottom of the die member presses against the pie plate. The arms 39 are continually revolved by the power transmitted through the shaft 4G and the several gears 49 and t2 so that as the carriage approaches its lowest position the cutting rollers come into contact with the top surface of the plate support la and they immediately commence to cut the sheet of dough on the arc of a circle larger than the circumference of the pie plate so that there is a. portion of dough projecting beyond the edge of the pie plate. The blade di' plow shares (5S following the rollers G5 turn this projecting portion of dough inwardly upon the flange of the pie plate adjacent to the outer edge of the die member The forming roller 59 following immediately after the plow or blade 68 rolls this turned-in rim of dough into the space between the outer edge of the die member 36 and the flange of the pie plate and forms the dough into a flange of the desired shape. Where two arms 39 are employed as shown herein, the two sets of cutters, plows and forming rollers will act simultaneously at opposite sides of the pie plate so that when the arms 39have made one half revolution the rim will have been completely formed. But should the arms 39 continue to revolve before the carriage moves upwardly it will have no further effect upon the dough. While these operations are taking place the sleeves 30, 3l, the bracket 32, and t-he entire crimping device are moving rearwardly or from right to left in Figure l parallel with the supports la and at the same speed as the latter. About the time that the rimniing device reaches the end of its movement to the left the carriage moves upwardly under the action of the cams 28 so that the rimming` device disengages from the pie plate and while it is so disengaged, the rimming device is moved to the right in Figure l by the action of the lever 50 ready for the above operations to be repeated upon the next successive pie plate carried by the conveyor. 1When the carriage begins to move upwardly in the above described operations, the die 36 and the forming rollers 59 move upwardly to some extent before the pin 34 commences to rise so that the latter holds the pie plate upon the support 14C until the die and rollers 59 have disengaged from the dough and subsequently the pin 34ralso rises from the pie plate. F rom the above it will be apparent that the dough from which the rim is formed is taken from the portion projecting beyond the die and pie plate when the cut is made, whereas, in former practice, the die had to squeeze out sufficient dough to form the rim. The latter was objectionable for the reasons pointed out above. It will be apparent that by changing the are traveled by the cutters 65 the amount of dough provided for the of dough into a disk of larger circumference than the finished product; means for turning the outer portion of said disk of dough inwardly between the die and plate; and means for revolving vsaid cutting and said turning-in means whereby the former opcrates immediately in advance of the latter.

9. In a pie making machine the combination of means for holding a pie plate; a die co-operating with said plate to pressa sheet of dough; means for cutting a sheet of dough to a disk of larger circumference than the finished product; and means for turning the projecting edge of dough inwardly between the die and pie plate, comprising a curved blade acting on said dough adjacent and subsequent to said cutting means.

10. In a pie making machine the combination of a support adapted to hold a pie plate with the flange of the plate resting on the support; a die co-operating with the said plate topress a sheet of dough; a cutting member co-operating with said support to cut a disk of dough of larger circumference than the finished product; means for pressing the cutting means into Contact with said support; a blade for turning the projecting edge of dough inwardly between thc plate and die, and means for pressing said blade into contact with said support.

11. In a pie making machine the combi nation of a support adapted to hold a pie plate with the flange of the plate resting on the support; a die co-operating with the said plate to press a sheet of dough; means for cutting a sheet of dough into a disk of larger circumference than the finished product; means for turning the edge of said disk inwardly between the die and plate; a roller for rolling the turned-in dough between the die and plate; means for revolving said cutting, said turning in, and said rolling means around the pie plate and means for revolving said roller on its own axis.

12. In a pie making machine the combination of a support adapted to hold a pie plate with the flange of the plate resting on the support; a die co-operating with the said plate to press a sheet of dough; means for cutting a sheet of dough into a disk of larger circumference than the nished product; means for turning the edge of said disk inwardly between the die and plate; a roller for rolling the turned-in dough between the die and plate; means for revolving said cutting, said turning in, and said rolling means around the pie plate, and means for revolving said roller on its own axis, comprising aI stationary gear, operating on a pinion carried with said roller.

13. In a pie making machine the combination of a support adapted to hold a pie plate with the flange of the plate resting on the support; a die (zo-operating with the said plate to press a sheet of dough; a plurality of cutting members for cutting a sheet of dough into a disk of larger circumference than the nished product; said cutting members acting simultaneously at diEerent points of the circumference of the disk and a member for each cutting member, serving to turn the outer edge of the disk of dough inwardly between the die and the plate.

14. In a pie making machine the combination of a support adapted to hold a pie plate with the liange of the plate resting on the support; a die co-operating with the said plate to press a sheet of dough; a plurality of cutting members for cutting a sheet of dough into a disk of larger circumference than the nished product; said cutting members acting simultaneously at different points of the circumference of the disk, and a member for each cutting member serving to turn the outer edge of the disk of dough inwardly between the die and the plate, and a revolving forming roller following each turning in member, for rolling the turned in dough to form a rim.

15. In a pie making machine the combination of a movable support adapted to hold a pie plate; a die co-operating with the said plate to press a sheet of dough; means for cutting the dough into a disk of larger circumference than the nished product; means for turning in the projecting edge of said disk between the plate and die; means for reciprocating said die, said cutting means, and said turning in means7 whereby they are caused to travel with the plate while forming a rim.

16. In a pie making machine the combination of a movable support adapt-ed to hold a pie plate; a die co-operating with the said plate to press a sheet of dough; means for cutting the dough into a disk of larger circumference than the finished product; means for turning in the projecting edge of said disk between the plate and die; means for reciprocating said die, said cutting means, and said turning in means, whereby they are caused to travel with the plate while forming a rim; and means for moving said members vertically in relation to the path of movement of the plate whereby said members are moved into and out of operative relation with the plate.

17. In a pie making machine the combination of a continuously traveling support for a pie plate; a die member co-operating with said plate to press a sheet of dough; means for cutting the sheet of dough; means for turning the edge of the dough inwardly between the die and plate, a carriage for said Vdie, said cutting and said turning in means,

and means for moving said carriage toward and from the path of said plate and means i for reciprocating said die, said cutting means and said turning in means on said carriage whereby they will be caused to travel with llO the plate while operating on a sheet of dough.

18. In a pie making machine the combination of a. plurality of iingers arranged around a circle and adapted to engage a rim of dough held on a pie plate and means for moving said fingers in opposite radial lines to crimp the rim of dough engaged between them.

19. In a pie making machine the combination of means forV holding a plate having a sheet of dough thereon with a rim formed around the edge of said plate; a plurality of swinging members arranged in circular form to engage on opposite Sides of the rim of dough anl means for moving said swinging members oppositely on radial lines to crimp said rim.

20. In a pie making machine the combination of means for supporting a pie plate having a sheet of dough with a rim formed around the edge of said plate; a lurality of members engaging said rim of Cough on opposite sides and arranged in circular form; means for causing said members to move in opposite directions on radial lines whereby the outer and inner members pass each other to crimp said rim of dough.

21. In a pie making machine the combination of means for holding a pie plate having a sheet of dough formed with a rim around the edge of the plate; a plurality of levers arranged in circular form and adapted to engage the rim of dough alternately on opposite sides thereof: and a cam acting on said levers to cause said arms to move in radial lines to crimp said rim.

29.. In a pie making machine the combination of means for holding a plate having a sheet oi' dough thereon formed with a rim around the edge of said plate; means i'or engaging the edge of the plate at various points of the circumference to hold the plate flat; a plurality of members arranged in circular form and adapted to engage the rim of dough on opposite sides thereof; and means for operating said latter members to move them iu radial lines to crimp said rim.

Q3. In -a pie making machine a continuously traveling support adapted to hold a pie plate having ak sheet of dough thereon formed with a rim around the edge of the plate; a crimping-device comprising a plurality of members adapted to engage sai'd rim ot' dough at opposite sides thereof; means for operating said members in radial lines to crimp the rim of dough, and means for reciprocating said crimping device whereby it will move with the plate while crimping the rim of dough.

24. In a pie making machine the combination of a movable support adapted to hold a plurality of pie plates having a sheet of dough on each plate; a rim forming device and a rim crimping device arranged to operate en the successive plates while carried on said support7 and means for causing said rim forming and said crimping devices to move with the plates while operating.

25. In a pie making machine the combination of a continuously traveling support adapted to hold a plurality of pie plates each having a sheet of dough thereon, a carriage and means for reciprocating the carriage vertically of the path of movement of the plates; a rim forming device on said carriage, a rim crimping device on said carriage, and means for reciprocating said rim forming and said crimping devices on said carriage whereby they will move with the plates while co-operating therewith.

Signed in the city, county and State of New York on the 18th day of July, 1923.

JOHN F. KHLER. 

